Loom



3 Sheets-Sheet l LOOM W` D. KELLOG ET AL Filed Feb.

Nov. 13, 1934.

NOV. 13, 1934. w. D KELL'OG ET AL 1,980,208

LOOM

Filed Feb. l5, 1933 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 ,Fig

ATTORNEYS Nov. 13, 1934. w. D. lKl-:LLCJG Er Al. 1,980,208

LOOM

Filed Feb. 15, 1933 3 Sheets-Sheet 5 ATTORNEYS Patented Nov. 13, 1934 UNITED STATES LooM William D. Kellogg, John Fradenburgh, and David l). Dubo, Amsterdam, N. Y., assignors to Mohawk Carpet Mills, Inc., Amsterdam, N. Y., a corporation of New York Application February 15, 1933, Serial No. 656,770

14 Claims.

This invention relates to looms for weaving Axminster fabrics and is concerned more particularly with a novel mechanism used in such looms for severing the yarn ends which are to form the pile tufts from the sources of supply.

In one form of Axminster looms now in common use, the yarns for the tufts are wound on spools carried in tube frames which are mounted in transporting chains in an order determined by the pattern. The transporting chains advance with a step by step movement during the operation of the loom and in each period of movement, one of the tube frames is removed from the chain by transfer mechanism and presented to the fabric. The yarn ends projecting from the tubes of the frame are passed between the warp threads and bound in place by a weft shot which is inserted by the usual needle. After the insertion and beating up of the shot, the transfer mechanism raises the tube frame and this causes lengths of the yarns to be drawn off the supply for the tufts. The yarns are then severed from the supply to leave tuft yarns of the proper length in the fabric and the tube frame is replaced on the chains which then advance to bring the next frame into position to be grasped by the transfer mechanism.

The cutting device used on such looms for severing the inserted portions of the yarns from the supplies commonly includes front and back cutting blades mounted on bars extending across the loom and lying on opposite sides of the group of yarns to be severed. At the proper instant in the operation of the loom, these bars approach each other and the knives cooperate to shear the inserted yarn ends from the supplies 'on the tube frames. In order that the knives may cut properly, they must bear against each other with substantial pressure, and unless the bars are of heavy rigid construction, there is a danger, particularly in wide looms, that the bars will bend or sag with consequent impairment of their cutting action. A cutting means of this type consumes a substantial amount of power, both in the movement of the bars and in the actual cutting operation, and the backward and forward movement of such large masses, particularly in wide looms, causes excessive vibration, reduces the smoothness of operation, and prevents operating the loom at high speeds. Also, the cutting blades have to be removed from the loom from time to time for resharpening and this causes a loss of time and productivity of the loom.

Another objection to cutting devices of the kind described is that they obstruct the view of the weaver during the weaving operation, and at the time the inserted yarns are severed from the supply, he cannot see whether all the ends are inserted properly between the warp threads. Also, he cannot see all the Warp ends at the fell of the fabric, and when a warp end breaks, it is difficult to tie it in properly because of the limited space available between the cutting blades The obstruction to the weavers view is likely toresult in defective weaving, even though the Weaver gives his best attention to the operation.

The present invention is directed to the provision of a new cutting mechanism for severing the inserted tufts from the supplies which overcomes the objections to the prior cutting mechanism above described and is greatly superior thereto in thatlthe new mechanism is of lighter weight, may be operated at higher speeds, functions without undue vibration, occupies less space, and is cheaper and easier to maintain in proper operating condition.

When used on an Axminsterloom of the type described, the new mechanism dispenses with the usual co-operating knives common to such looms, and it may be Vmounted at one side or the other ofthe inserted row of tufts, in the position occupied bythe front or back knife of the prior mechanism. The newvdevice comprises a knife comb mounted on a movable bar on. adjustable supports at one lside of the row of inserted tufts, one or Vmore movable cutting knives being mounted to cooperate with the knife comb. At the proper instantin each'loomcyclewhen the inserted yarn ends are to be severed from the supplies, the knife comb advances so as-to receive the individual yarn ends between its teeth, and the cutting knives then traverse the face of the comb and sever the ends held in the teeth; After the cutting operation is completed, the comb is retracted, and the knives returned to their original position ready to start their cutting action in the next cycle of loom operation.

The new mechanism can be used advantageously not only on those Axminster looms in which the pile yarns `are inserted in the fabric by .the dipping of the tube frames, but also on Axminsterlooms in which the pile yarns are withdrawn from the supplies and inserted in the fabric by means of grippers.

, The new cutting mechanism may be used on looms for weaving single Axminster fabrics and also on looms in which two such fabrics are woven face to face simultaneously. For example, the new mechanism may be used to great advantage on the face to face Axminster loom disclosed in filiV the copending application of Shuttleworth, Serial No. 618,839, filed June 23, 1932, and when employed on a Shuttleworth loom of the tube frame type, it is mounted in place of the back knife and no front knife is needed. Because of the absence of the front knife, the movement of the topoomb employed in that loom for looping the tuft yarns about the weft shots in the upper fabric can be greatly reduced, and this decreases the vibration of the top comb so that it operates more smoothly, thereby insuring proper entrance of the comb teeth between the warp threads with Fig. 1 is a sideelevation of a face to face Axminster loom of the tube frame type embodying the new cutting mechanism; Fig. 2 is a plan view of the cutting mechanism,

Figs. 3 and 44 vare detail views of the cutting mechanism, y f,

Fig. 5 is a view similar to Fig. 1 illustrating the cutting mechanism used in a face to face AX- minster loom of the gripper type; and y Fig. 6 is ay view of a single fabric loom embodying a modified form of the new cutting mechanism. f l v In Figs. 1 to 4, inclusive, the loom shown is a Shuttleworth loom of the tube frame type as disclosed in the co-pending application, and the loom is conventionally illustrated as including side frame members 10, spaced breastplates 11 and l2'which are adjustable toward and away from each other and through which the double fabric passesl from the weaving point, upper and lower comb devices 13 and 14, respectively, and transporting chains 15 by which the tube frames 17 are carried., As each frame is advanced by the chains to a position above the fabric, it is removed from the chains by the transfer arms` 16 and is then lowered so as to dip theyarn ends 18 between the warp threads. After the insertion of the yarn. ends by the lowering of the tube, frame, shots of v-weft are inserted in the upper and lower warp shedsby means of needles andthe shots are beaten up tchold the yarn ends. TheJ transfer mechanism then rises and lengths of yarn are' drawn oi from the spool or spools in the tube frame. The cutting mechanism then functionsto sever the yarn ends to leaveV lengths suitable for the tufts inserted in the fabric and they tube frame is then restoredto the chains by the transfer mechanism. l v. y

y'The new mechanism for severing the yarns fromthe supply comprises a bar 19, eachend of whichisrece'ived Ain a guideway defined by upper and` lower guide members 20 and( 21 ywhich are adjustably mounted onybrackets 22 securedto' loom frame members, and at its lower end, each lever carries a roller 30 operating in a track in a cam 31 on the shaft 32. As the cams rotate during the operation of the loom, they rock the levers 28 to cause the bar 19 with the knife comb 24 to be advanced into operative position and retracted therefrom, the individual strands of the yarninserted in the fabric being received betweenthe teeth 33 of the combl in theadvancing movement. When in this position, the yarn ends are severed by means of one or more movable knives which traverse the comb.

In the construction illustrated, there is a single movable knife 34 mounted in a slot ina shoe f 35 with which the bar 1,9 dovetails. The knife 34 is pressed into rm contact with the face of the knife comb-by means of a spring blade 36 secured to the shoe 35, and this blade forces the knife 34 downwardly with sufficient -pressure so that a clean shearing action is obtained. The shoe is moved from one end of the knife comb 24 to the other in the cutting operation, this movement of theshoe being effected by means ofv a cable 37 to which the shoe is attached by means of a clamp 38. i f

Y The ends of the cable are attached to a drum 39 and from the point of attachment 39', the cable leads around a sheave 40 supported in the endjof a lever 41 pivotally mounted'at 42 on the loom frame and carrying a roller 43 which cooperates with the camv 44 cn the shaft 32. From the sheave 40, the cable passes up and over a sheave 41 journaled in bearings in a caster bracket 45 which is in turn journaled in a bracket 46 secured to bracketv`22. The mounting of bracket 45 is such that it may swivel about the center of the cable as an axis. `From the sheave 41, the

cableA passes across the width of the loom to a sheave 47 mounted for free rotation on a pin `48 on the upper surface of the bar 19. From sheave 47, the cable passes along parallel with the' forward edge ofthe barr and it is to this stretch of the cable that the shoe or shoes carrying the movable vknivesare secured by means of their clamps. The cable passes through an opening in one end of bracket 25 andaround a sheave 49 journaled in bearings in the caster bracket 50 which is in turn journaled in bearings in bracket 25 so that caster 50 and sheave 49 may swivel aboutgthe center of the cable as an axis. From the sheave 49, the cable continues downward and around a portion of the `drum to be connected thereto at the point 51. K

In the cutting operation, the shoe 35 is moved along the bar 19 to carry the knife 34-the en-.

ber and the other of which is mounted on a support 54. The shaftlis rotated by means of a pinion55 meshing with a gear segment v56 formed at one end of a bell crank lever 57 pivotally mounted at 2,8y on the standard 54. A link 59 connects the` other arm of the bell crank to'a lever 60 pivoted at 61 on a part of the loom frame and carrying a roller 62 which runs in the groove vin'cam. 63 on shaft 32. During the cutting movement of the knife, the cable must be taut, so that the knife will travel evenly and `cut properly. At other times, the cable l.should be slack so that the knife structure can be retracted without difficulty. The use of the sheave 40, the vposition 'of which is controlled bythe cam 44 and lever 4l, provides a satisfactory means forregulating the tautness of the cable, since, by the use of a cam of proper shape, the cable may be tautened to the desired extent at the desired time, and the cable may be slack at all other times.

In order that the yarn ends may be properly cut, one end must enter each space between teeth 33 of the knife comb 34 and the bar 19 to which comb 24 is attached is adjustable to insure proper centering of the knife comb relative to the yarns.

' For this purpose, each guide member 20 which denes the top and one side of the guideway for one end of the bar 19, is adjustable in a direction lengthwise of the bar, the member 20 being secured to the member 21 by bolts 64 which pass through slots in the member 20 and enter the member 21. An exact horizontal adjustment of the member 20 is provided by means of adjusting screws which pass through lugs 66 on member 2l and bear against the end of the member 20, the screws being held in adjusted position by nuts 67. By means of the adjusting` screws' 65 at opposite ends of the bar 19, the guide members 20 can be adjusted horizontally, and then secured rigidly in position by means of bolts 64.

Since the position of the knives relative to the supplies solely determines the length of the pile tufts, vertical adjustment of the bar 19 is necessary in order that the cooperatingknives may sever greater or less lengths of the tuft yarns as may be required for fabrics of different thicknesses. This vertical adjustment is permitted by mounting the guide members 21 on brackets 22 by means of bolts 68 threaded into the members 21 and passing through slots 69 in brackets 22. Exact adjustment of members 21 is then accomplished by means of adjusting screws threaded through the top of each member 2l and bearing against the top of the bracket 22. Each of these adjusting screws is provided with its lock nut 7l.

In the operation of the device, the bar 19 remains in inoperative position, as indicated in the dotted lines in Figure 2, until the yarns have been inserted in the fabric and lengths of the yarn have been drawn from the supplies, and while the bar is in this position, the shoe carrying the movable knife 34 is at one end yof the knife comb 24. As soon as the yarns are ready to be cut, the bar 19 is advanced by its cams and connections to the full line position shown in Figure 2, and in this movement, the yarn ends are received between the teeth of the knife comb 24. As the bar moves to cutting position, the cable which actuates the movable knife is slackened and the slack is taken up by the sheave 40 which is moved to the full line position shown in Figure l by lever 4l and its cam.

When the yarns are properly receivedbetween the teeth of the knife comb, the cable drum is rotated in the proper direction to cause the shoe to advance along bar 19 so that the movable knife cooperating with the knife comb shears the yarns. As soon as the cutting action is completed, the' tube frame returns to the transporting chains and the bar 19 is drawn back to inoperative position by the operating connections. When the bar reaches its retracted position, the shoe is returned to the other end of the bar -19 and this is effected by rotation of the cable drum in the opposite direction. In the movement of the bar to inoperative position, the cable must be slackened and this is permitted by the raising of the sheave 40 by'itslcam andY lever. The cycle of operations is then repeated after a new row of tuft yarns has been inserted in the fabric.

The use of the new cutting mechanism in the face to face Axminster loom of the tube frame type offers special advantages in that it alfords additional space above the fabric and thus sirnplies the construction and operation of the top comb. Also, because of the additional space so aorded, the weaver can watch the insertion of the tuft yarns, the cutting of these yarns, and the action of the top comb more carefully.

r'In Figure 5, there is illustrated an .embodiment of the invention in a face to face loom of the gripper type. In this loom, the grippers comprise jaws 72 and 73 connected by a pin 74 and actuated in the usual way by means of shafts 75 and 76. The loom has the usual spaced breastplates 1l and 12, the lower breastplate being provided with a breastplate comb 77 provided with projections 78 at its top. The loom also includes the upper comb mechanism generally designated 13.

The knife mechanism generally designated 79 is mounted in guideways in brackets 80 attached to supports 81 on the loom frame and is moved in the guideways by rods 27 attached to levers 28, drivenby cams, not shown. The details of the actuating mechanism for the movable knife are not illustrated in Figure 5 but they include the cable drum 39, sheave 40, and lever 41 in which the sheave is mounted, the construction being that illustrated in Figure 1. They also include the sheaves 49 mounted on the knife supporting bar 19 and sheave 41 mounted in a bracket on the support 81.

In Figure 6, there is illustrated an Axminster loom for weaving single fabrics in which the new cutting mechanism generally designated 79 replaces the front knife of the prior construction. The Vknife 79 is shown in this figure as mounted on arms 82 fast on shaft 88 which is rocked by an arm 84, push rod 85, and a cam, not shown, to move the knife 79 into and out of operative position. This knife mechanism is the same as that illustrated in Figure 1 with respect to the cable drum, the sheaves, etc.

What we claim:

l. In a loom of the Axminster type, the combination of tube frames carrying supplies of tuft yarns, means for inserting yarns from said` supplies between warp threads, and means for severing from said supplies lengths of yarns suitable for pile tufts,said means comprising a support, a knife comb attached to said support, a movable knife mounted on said support to cooperate with said comb, means for moving said support into and out of operative position, means including a cable for moving said movable knife, and means for maintaining said cable taut during the cutting operation, said means including an element engaging'said cable and means for moving said element to different positions.

' 2. In a loo-m of the A.xminster type, the combination of tube frames carrying supplies of tuft yarns, means for inserting yarns from said supplies between warp threads, and means for able for pile tufts, said means comprising a support, la knife comb attached tosaid support, a movable knife mounted on said support to cooperate with said comb,rmea`ns for moving said support into and out of operative position, means for adjusting' said support relative to said supplies, means including a cable for moving said movable knife, and means for maintaining said severing'ifroin said supplies lengths of yarns suitcable taut during the cutting operation, including c an element engaging the cable and means for moving said element to different positions.

3. In a loom of the Axminster type, the combinationof tube frames carrying suppliesof tuft yarns, means for. inserting yarns from said supplies between warp threads, and means for severing from said supplies lengths of yarns suitable for pile tufts, said means comprising cooperating cutting members disposed at one, side of the group of yarns to be severed, means for moving said members into and out of operative position, means for moving one member along the other in both directions, said means comprising a cable, and means for maintaining said cable taut, said means including a sheave around which the cable is trained, and positive means for moving said sheave bodily to take up and let out slack in said cable.

4. In a loom of the Axminster type, the combination of supplies of tuft yarns, means for inserting yarns from said supplies between warp threads'means for severing from said supplies lengths of yarn suitable for pile tufts, said means comprising cooperating cutting members on the same side of the group of yarns to be cut, a comb on the other side of said group of yarns and on the same side of the fabric as said cutting members, means for actuating said comb to cause it to loop the ends of the severed portions of said yarns about weft shots, and means for actuating said cutting members including a cable, an element engaging the cable, and means for moving said element to cause it to render said cable taut during the cutting operation.

5. In a loom for` weaving a double Axminster fabric, the co-mbination of supplies of tuft yarns, means for inserting yarns from said supplies between warp threads, means for severing from said supplies lengths of f yarn suitable for pile tufts, said means comprising cooperating cutting members on the same side ofthe group of yarns to be cut, a comb at the other side of said group of yarns and on the same side of the warp threads as said cutting members, a comb on the other side of said warp threads, means for actuating said combs to loop the ends of said severed lengths of yarn about weft shots, means for moving said cutting members into and outof operating position, and means for actuating said cutting members including a cable, a drum to which said cable is attached, means for rotating said drum, and positive means for maintaining said cable taut.

6. In a loom for weaving a double Axminster fabric, the combination of supplies of tuft yarns, means for inserting yarns from said supplies between warp threads, spaced breastplates between which the double fabric leaves the weaving point, means for adjusting said breastplates toward and away from each other to vary the thickness of the fabric, means for severing from said supplies lengths of yarn suitable for pile tufts, said means comprising cooperating cutting members lying at one side of the group of yarns to be cut, means for adjusting saidsevering means toward and serted yarns and to cause,` it to loop the 'ends of said yarns about weft shots.

7. In a loom for weaving Axminster fabrics, the combination of supplies of tuft yarns, means for inserting yarns from said supplies between Warp threads, and means for severing from said supplies lengths of yarn suitable for pile tufts, said severing means comprising cooperating cutting members, one of which is movable transversely of thegroup of yarns to be out, a cable attached to said movable member, a `drum attached to said cable, means for rotating said drum in opposite directions, means for moving said members toward and away from said yarns, and means operating intermittently and in proper timed relation with said moving means for maintaining said cable taut 'during the severing operation only. v

8. In a loom for weaving a double Axminster fabric, the combination of tube frames carrying supplies of tuft yarns, means for moving said frames to cause the tubes thereon to pass between warp threads to insert the ends of yarns from saidv supplies `between said warp threads, means for severing the inserted lengths of said yarns from said supplies, said means comprising cooperating cutting members lying at the same side of the group of yarns to be cut, and means for actuating said cutting members, said actuating means including means for moving said members toward and away from the yarns to be cut, a cable attached to one of said members, a drum attached to said cable, means for rotating said drum in both directions, and means actuated in timed relation to said moving means for taking up and letting out slack in said cable.

9. In a loom for weaving Axminster fabrics, the combination of tube frames carrying supplies of tuft yarns, means for moving said tube frames to insert the ends of yarn extending from said supplies between warp threads, and means for severing the inserted portions of the yarn from said supplies, said means being the sole means for determining the length of the tufts in the completed fabric and comprising cooperating cutting members disposed at one side of the group of yarns to be severed, a support for said members and means for adjusting said support toward and away from said supplies to vary the height ofthe tufts. l

1Y0. In a loom of the Axminster type, the combination of supplies of tuft yarns, means for inserting yarns from said supplies between Warp threads, means for severing from said supplies lengths of yarn suitable for pile tufts, said means comprising cooperating cutting members both lying at one side of V-the warp threads and at one side of the group of yarns to be cut, a comb mounted at the other side of the warp threads and at the other side of the group of yarns to be cut, means for giving said comb Aa combination of swinging movements to cause it to move into engagement with the inserted yarns and to loop the ends of said yarns about weft shots, and means for actuating said cutting members including a cable, an element engaging the cable, and means for moving said element to causev` it to` maintain the cable taut during the cutting operation.

11. In a loom of the Axminster type, the combination of tube frames carrying supplies of tuft yarns, means for moving saidframes to insert the ends of yarns on said supplies between Warp threads, means for severing from' said supplies v lengths of yarn suitable for pile tufts, said means 3 comprising cooperating cutting members both lying at one side of the warp threads and at one side of the group of yarns to be cut, a comb mounted at the other side of thewarp threads and at the other side of the group of yarns to be cut, means for giving' said comb a combinafr tion of swinging movements to cause it to engage the ends of the inserted portions of said yarns and loop said ends about weft shots, and means for actuating said cutting members including a cable, an element engaging the cable, and means for moving said element to cause it to maintain the cable taut during the cutting operation.

12. In a loom for weaving a double Axminster fabric, the combination of tube frames carrying supplies of tuft yarns, means for moving said tube frames to cause the tubes thereof to pass between warp threads to insert the ends of yarns on said supplies between said warp threads, means for severing the inserted lengths of vyarn from said supplies, said means comprising cooperating cutting members lying at the same side of the group of yarns to be cut, a comb mounted at the other side of said group of yarns and on the same side of the warp threads as said cutting members, a comb mounted on the other side of said warp threads, means for giving said combs a combination of swinging movements to cause them to engage the ends of the inserted lengths of yarn and loop said ends about weft shots, and means for actuating said cutting members.

13. In a loom of the Axminster type, the combination of supplies of tuft yarns, means for inserting yarns from said supplies between Warp threads, means for severing from said supplies lengths of yarn suitable for pile tufts, said means comprising cooperating cutting members at one side of the group of yarns to be cut and at one sideof said Warp threads, a comb mounted at the other side of said warp threads and on the same side of said group of yarns to be cut as said cutting members, means for giving said comb a combination of swinging movements to cause said comb to engage the ends of inserted yarns and to loop said ends about weft shots, and means for actuating said cutting members including a cable,` an element engaging the cable, and means for moving the element to cause it to maintain the cable taut during the cutting operation.

14. In a loom of the AXminster type, the combination of tube frames carrying supplies of yarn, meansfor moving said tube frames to insert the ends of the yarns on said supplies between Warp threads, means for severing the inserted lengths of yarn from said supplies, said means comprising cooperating cutting members lying at one side of'the warp threads and at one side of the group of yarns to be cut, a comb at the other side of said Warp threads and at the same side of the group of yarns, means for giving said comb a combination of swinging movements to cause it to engage the ends of the inserted yarns and loop said ends about weft shots, and means for actuating said cutting members including a cable, an element engaging the cable, and means for moving the element to cause it to maintain the cable taut during the cutting operation.

WILLIAM D. KELLOGG. JOHN FRADENBURGH. DAVID D. DUBE. 

